Bevan and Robyn Wilson head into Sunday’s Crombie & Price LTD Oamaru Cup (1600m) with three last-start winners, but things haven’t been smooth-sailing for the Ashburton couple.
Lord Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Victorian Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit) have had interrupted preparations, with the former having last raced at Wingatui at the start of last month, and their trainers have been trying to play catch-up with the pair.
“Not everything has gone according to plan, but we are excited to have three capable horses being there anyway,” Bevan Wilson said.
“Lord Darci got injured, we think, coming home on the float from his win at Dunedin. He has missed a bit of work and received a bit of treatment from the vet.
“He is all good again now, but he did miss a couple of races in that time that would have been beneficial for him. We are back now so we have just got to hope he comes up again.
“Victorian Charm missed a race at Ashburton, which was probably crucial this preparation too. He is getting thrown in the deep end a little bit at Oamaru.
“It has just made it a little bit difficult having them ready for the stern test ahead.”
Stablemate Royal Valour (NZ) (Belardo) heads into the race in good fettle and full of confidence following his victory at Ashburton a fortnight ago.
“He has had his issues over time, but he seems to be coming to it,” Wilson said. “He has only had the one run back from his spell as well. It was reasonably tough going at Ashburton and hopefully he backs up from that, and we think he will.”
Wilson has been rapt with each of their consistent form lines, and he is hoping to give them a crack at stakes level in next month’s Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 128th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton.
“They have done well since virtually Christmas time,” he said. “They like the sting out of the ground, but they go on most types of going.
“We are giving them a preparation that might get them to the Winter Cup if we can. Royal Valour and Victorian Charm probably need to earn some points to get in that race and we are trying to give them a chance to do that.”
Stablemate Victor Rouge is also in line to head to Riccarton for the Grand National Festival of Racing and will have a final lead-in run in Sunday’s Glenmoa Farms LTD River Plate Trophy (1200m).
“Things haven’t gone his way in his last couple (of races),” Wilson said. “He has drawn one again, which doesn’t really suit him. We are hoping to get him back further and try and get him to settle. The 1200m will help with that too.
“He will also head towards the Grand National meeting where we had a bit of luck last year.”